Cooper Flagg expects to be talking about the Charlotte Hornets' win over the Dallas Mavericks with former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel "for the rest of our lives".

Flagg, who turned 19 in December, broke the NBA record for points in a game by a teenager as he scored 49 for the Mavericks, who suffered a 123-121 loss to the Hornets.

But as well as a record points total, Flagg also set career highs with 20 field goals on 29 shots and had 10 rebounds.

Knueppel, meanwhile, finished with a career-high 34 points and made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left. He also made eight 3-pointers, a rookie record for Charlotte, who have won each of their last five.

The pair are competing for Rookie of the Year, a fight which Flagg is relishing.

"It's incredible," Flagg said of competing with Knueppel for Rookie of the Year. "I wouldn't want to be in any other position.

"We'll both be looking back on this night and this whole year in general for the rest of our lives, and we'll be talking about it and stuff like that. It's just so special to have this opportunity in general.

HE'S ONLY 19!!!!! pic.twitter.com/vqOoBuXUdc

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 30, 2026

"I played with him last year, and when he sees some easy ones go in to start the game, it's never a good thing. That's how it is with a lot of great shooters. You never want to let him tee up open shots and start a game and get into a rhythm.

"I'm always trying to get better. That's something I don't want to say I struggle with, but I have seen a ton of double-teams and stuff, so just figuring out how I can be effective in those moments. It's got to be a lot better."

Flagg moved past Knueppel as the rookie scoring leader on Thursday, now at 19.5 points per game. He also follows LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in NBA history to record multiple 40-point performances.

The combined score of 83 points between Flagg and Knueppel is the most by a pair of rookies in a game since Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich in 1971 (combined for 91).

"Just a crazy ending to a phenomenal game," Knueppel said. "He [Flagg] was the best player on the floor.

"Probably, I mean, that's the best player that's played against us all season. It's just fun competing against the best, and obviously, being close with him, that kind of adds to the competitiveness. So, it was really fun.

"We'd both like to win [Rookie of the Year], but we don't talk about it. I mean, this was a heck of a game. I think he's probably going to jump me with 49 and 10 [rebounds], but it is what it is. An award like that is cool, but whoever gets it, I'll be happy for him.

"Who knows? I'm just glad we got the win. That matters more to me than anything else."